Comparison of Soil–Water Characteristic Curves in One-Dimensional and Isotropic Stress Conditions

Abstract Understanding unsaturated soil behavior is key to the design of foundations and embankment structures. Geotechnical engineers have applied net normal stress and matric suction to these engineering problems. Water retention activity in soils is used to predict seepage problems and stability of slope failures. Soil–Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) tests contribute largely to matric suction interpretation. Determination of SWCCs in the laboratory is usually done using a pressure plate apparatus where vertical or confining stress cannot be applied. Mathematical models of SWCC though commonly accepted in geotechnical engineering practices, do not take into consideration stress conditions such as the difference between a one-dimensional condition and isotropic confining conditions. This study conducted SWCC tests of a silt soil under one-dimensional and isotropic confining stress conditions and focused on the differences between these types of SWCC data sets. Vertical and isotropic confining stresses ranging from 100 to 600 kPa were applied under both stress conditions. SWCCs appears to be affected by the influence of different stress conditions. Lateral pressure and confinement on an isotropic compression condition caused the soil specimen to become dense in void structure and consequently, soil moisture flow movement decreased. This probably induced high retention activities in the silt soil specimen. The study further suggests that the current SWCC models require further development to take into consideration the effect of different stress conditions. View Full-Tex